Plastic type modeling compound



United States Patent 3,183,108 PLASTIC TYPE MODELING COMPOUND William C.Rhodenhaugh and Tien Lin, Cincinnati, Ghio, assignors to Rainbow Crafts,Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio No Drawing. Continuationof application Ser. No. 799,085, Mar. 13, 1959. This application Aug. 6,1962, Ser. No. 214,851

2 Claims. (Cl. 106-453) This is a continuing application of co-pendingapplication 799,085, filed March 13, 1959, and now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to plastic type modeling compounds andmore particularly to modeling compositions of soft pliable, workingconsistency for being molded manually or mechanically into any desiredshape or form.

Another object of this invention is to provide plastic type modelingcompositions which are slow drying and which may be repeatedly reworkedand molded into different shapes and forms While being retained in aworkable moldable condition for repeated use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modelingcomposition which has a very smooth surface when dry, and one which willnot saltout or form a frosty film or covering thereon when dried.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a modelingcomposition which will not oxidize when dried, thus eliminatingdiscoloration and assuring retention of the original'color;

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modelingcomposition which, if exposed to the atmosphere over an extended period,will permanently harden into any desired shape or form. 7

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modelingcomposition which when permitted to harden produces a finished productwhich has the appearance of real wood. The finished product is capableof being filed, sanded, painted, lacquered or finished in any otherdesired maner, to produce different and unusual effects.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modelingcompound which has a grain or surface effect similar to that of realwood. A color and grain effect which can be varied by the use ofnon-toxic dyes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a modelingcompound which will harden into'a finished product which appears similarto real wood and when allowed to dry becomes extremely hard, strong andrigid and possesses a high resistance to breaking.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modelingcompound of an extremely pliable consistency which can be more easilyshaped and formed than any other existing modeling compound andtherefore particularly lends itself to childrens play.

Another object of the present invention is to provide modelingcompositions for childrens play which are clean, non-sticky, non-toxic,non-staining and which are completely safe for childrens use since theyare inflamable in both their pliable and dry state.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modelingcompoundwhich when shaped or formed into a desired object and permitted to drywill form a permanent finishedobject which has a uniformly smooth andrelastic wood grain-like appearance which has no tendency to crack,shrink or fall part.

Still a further object is to provide a modeling compound which prior todrying has a .homogenous consisteney and that can be used directly asproduced without requiring the additional step of adding materials suchas water, oil, powder etc., thereby, eliminating the mess of mixing andpreparing the compound as'is required with 3,l83,l08 Patented May11,1985

ice

other anhydrous materials now on the market which requires a liquid tobe added thereto prior to use.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of construction andcomposition, will readily appear from the detailed description tofollow. We have accomplished the objects of the invention by means setforth in the following specification. The invention is clearly definedand pointed out in the appended claims, and a composition constitutingtwo pereferred embodiments of the invention is set forth for carryingout the invention. It is also to be understood that the phraseology andterminology herein used are for purposes of description and not oflimitation, as the scope of the invention is denoted by the appendedclaims.

Modeling compositions presently on the market have a tendency to losetheir original colors when dried. This is a result of a process known inthe trade as salting out which occurs when a portion of the salt contentof the modeling compound comes to the surface of the compound, when thecompound is dried, thereby, leaving a white salty film. The film isbelieved to be formed by the process of oxidation which occurs when thesalt reaches the surface of the compound. The salty film or coatingcauses the modeling compound to discolor. In other words, the originalcolors tend to fade and discolor and produce objects whose colors arenot nearly so brilliant as the original coloring of the compound, in itsplastic state. Thus, for example, the modeling composition, in itsplastic state, may be a brilliant red and when dried it would be a lightpink or a bright blue would fade and discolor into a pale blue. Suchdiscoloration and fading out naturally proves a disappointment to themodeler. This is particularly pertinent since the modeling compounds ofthis type are very popular among children.

An additional disadvantage of modeling compounds presently on the marketis that when dried the surface tends to crack and become crystalline andrough so that the finished article loses much of the detail which themodeler incorporated in the modeled object while the composition wasstill plastic. This effect produces further disappointment to themodeler when the composition is dried.

It is believed that the sodium chloride content of previous modelingcompounds produced the salting out. However, since salt is one of theessential ingredients in such composition, it could not be entirelyeliminated. It has been found that when calcium chloride is added to thecompound, preferably Within certain limits hereinafter set forth, theprocess of salting out, cracking and crystallizing of the surface whenthe modeling composition is dried, is completely eliminated and aproduct having a very smooth surface is produced. Further, thecomposition retains its original color and no fading or discolorationoccur. The calcium chloride is believed to maintain a balanced moisturecontent and keeps the product from salting out. The salty film formed bythe crystals of salt on the surface of present modeling compounds, whendried, is completely eliminated.

The calcium chloride content is preferably 40 to 60% of the total saltand calcium chloride content of the present composition. It has beenfound that in the absence of sufficient calcium chloride the product has"a tendency to salt out and in the presence of too much calcium chloridethe product acquires undesirable characteristics.

In general, the present modeling composition consists essentially ofvegetable flour, such as grain flour Which is adapted to be gelatinized,a soluble saline extender, water, a hydrocarbon petroleum distillate oilwhich is preferably odorless, preservative, antiseptic and a hardenerand astringent agent for binding the composition into a cohesive mass.Desirable but not essential eleanasnos 3 ments include perfume orcoloring matter or both, which may be added if desired. Any grain flourmay be used but wheat flour is preferred. Such grain flours may be usedalone or in combination. Next to wheat flour, rye flour is preferred.

The water oluble saline extender is preferably made up of sodiumchloride. A non-corrosive type of salt which will not injure the flouris preferably used, such as sodium hypochlorite or sodium chloride.

The antiseptic used is preferably sodium benzoate but it will beunderstood that other materials such as sorbic acid, salicylic acid,sodium and calcium propionate, acetic or methanecarboxylic acid, glacialacetic acid (pure compound) and vinegar may be used alone or incombination.

The preservative used is preferably borax. The borax used is a hydrousborate and is a commercial borax which under Federal specificationscalls for not less than 95.5 hydrous sodium borate in three grade fromlarge crystals to fine white powder. For the present invention the finewhite powder is preferred over the large crystal form.

Alum such as potash or soda alum is preferably used as the hardener and.astringent agent. It will be understood that the term alum refers tohydrated double sulphates of aluminum and univalent or trivalent metals,such as sodium, potassium or ammonium, chromium and iron. The functionof the alum is to 'bind the composition into a cohesive mass.

The odorless, hydrocarbon petroleum distillate or derivatives containingoxygen are typified by kerosene and particularly deodorized kerosenethis being representa tive of any hydrocarbon petroleum distillate whichis not so volatile as to be explosive and has a boiling range of from150 to 350 F. The function and purpose of the hydro'cargon petroleumdistillate is to form a thin film coating around the solid particles, ofthe composition. In the absence of the hydrocarbon petroleum distillate,the flour when expanded, coagula-ted and gelatinized will formundesirable lumps therein, however, when such flour particles and anyother solid particles that may exist in the composition are coated witha thin film of hydrocarbon distillate a homogenous mass is producedwhich is entirely free of undesirable lumps. The thin film coatingprovided by the hydrocarbon distillate gives the present mixture auniformly smooth property so that it will not be sticky when coming incontact with other objects, or the hands and will be maintained in alump free condition throughout its useful life.

The perfume or aromatic oils used in the present composition are thosecomprising what are commonly referred to as essential oils or volatileoils and a relatively small quantity of perfume may be included in thecomposition if desired. The perfume material may be of any ordinary andnon-toxic type.

The colored materials used in the present composition may be referred togenerally as a class, preferably such as are certified to qualify underthe provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and mayconsist of any dye which is non-toxic and used for coloring food. Thecoloring material may be included if desired and when used only a verysmall quantity is required, namely, approximately, A; to pounds forblues and reds in a batch within the ranges hereinafter described:

The preferred ranges of the components of the composition are asfollows:

Pounds Flour 170 to 250 Water 250 to 320 Salt 2() to 50 Calcium chloride20 to 5?) Hydrocrabon distillate 8 to 30 Preservative, and drying agent1 /2 to 2 /2 Antiseptic agent /2 to 1 Pounds Hardening and astringentagent 3 to 5 Perfume 1 to 2 Coloring matter A5 to A 5 The preferredranges of the components of the compositions by weight are as follows:

15 to 45% grain flour 30 to 65% water 10 1 to 10% water soluble salt 1to 10% calcium chloride /2 to 5% hydrocarbon distillate having a boilingpoint between 150 to 350 F. At least A perservative and drying agent Vof a percent antiseptic agent /2 hardening and astringent agent 2 to 30%wood particles 1 All of the components of the instant compound areplaced in an ordinary bakery dough mixer. The water is then heated to atleast 150 F. and immediately dumped into the mixer with the othermaterials previously contained therein and all of these components aremixed into a homogeneous mass until the flour cell is well expanded andproperly gelatinized. When the protein content of the flour becomesheated in the presence of water, it forms a gluten formation throughcoagulation while the starch content of the flour when combined withwater and heat gelatinizes. Such effect will take place withinapproximately 7 to minutes of mixing. So too, the 30 mixing sequence isnot critical as the heated water could be first placed in the mixer andthen the other ingredients of the batch added thereto. The water ispreferably heated to 200 F. and then added to the other ingredientscontained in the mixer and the mixing carried out for 30 approximately15 minutes after which the modeling compound is released as amonogeneous plastic type modeling compound which forms one embodiment ofthe instant invention. The flour, water, salt, and calcium chloridecomponents combined, comprise the bulk of the composition preferablyabout at least 15 to times as much in weight as the other combinedcomponents. The modeling compound made according to the teachings of theinstant invention has the characteristics heretofore described. Thecompound can be used directly from the can in which it is packaged andmay be returned to the container after use with no ill eficcts, sincethe compound when used in this manner will retain its pliability andworking characteristics for periods up to three years. A specificexample of the compound is as follows:

The present invention is further directed to the disclosure of amodeling compound which has very unusual characteristics and strengthbeyond those existing in present modeling compounds. It has been foundthat when wood particles are added to the modeling compositionpreviously herein described, in accordance with the teachingshereinafter disclosed, a product is formed which when permitted toharden produces a finish which has the appearance of real wood. Thefinished product can be painted, filed, sanded, lacquered or finished inany other desirable manner, to produce different and unusual effects.

The compound is capableof producing greater detail in the objectsmodeled which may in part be due to a higher viscosity than othermodeling compounds. Due .to the great stability of the product, moredetail is possible in any given area, particularly minute detail. Thus,for example, if the product iscompressed within the hand of the modeler,the lines and creases of the modelers hand will be reproduced in thesurface of the product and if the product is permitted to dry suchcontours remain a part of the dried object. Other modeling compoundshave a tendency to lose some of their detail during the dryingoperation. The present compound also tends to support itself and retainits molded form to a greater degree than any modeling compoundheretofore known. For example, ifthernodeler were forming the relativelythin legs of a-horse, in comparison to the body weight of the horse, thepresent modeling compound would support the'weight of the horses bodywithout collapsing, whereas, previous modeling compounds would collapsepartially or entirely due to the tendency of such compounds to flow.

In general, the composition of the instant compound is similar to thatheretofore described with the exception of the addition of woodparticles. Soft Wood particles are preferable to hard wood particles,however, the in vention is not to be limited to soft wood. Soft maple ispreferred because of its color which is fairly neutral and because ithas a high sap content. It is believed that the sap or gum content ofthe wood when heated combines with the flour so that the wood particlesand the grain flour combine to give a modeling compound more capable ofsupporting itself when plastic and having greater strength when dry.Tupelo wood may be used to produce a uniform white color, if desired, inthe modeling compound. It has been found that hard wood particles suchas cherry, iron wood, oak, etc., do not produce a product as desirableas one produced from soft woods.

With regard to the size of the wood particles used in the presentcomposition thep referred range would be that size which would passthrough a standard 40 mesh U.S. screen and be retained on a 90 meshstandard U.S. screen, such screens being constructed in accordance withthe standards set forth by the National Bureau of Standards.

The preferred ranges of the component of the composition are as follows:

Pounds Flour 170 to 250 Water 250 to 320 Salt to 50 Calcium chloride 20to 50 Hydrocarbon distillate 8 to Preservative, drying agent 1%. to 2 /2Antiseptic agent /2 to 1 Hardening and astringent agent 3 to 5 Woodparticles 65 to 140 Perfume 1 to 2 Coloring matter Ms to All of thecomponents of the instant compound with the exception of the water andwood particles, are placed in an ordinary bakery dough mixer. The wateris then heated to at least 150 F. and immediately dumped into the mixerwith the other materials previously contained therein and all of thesecomponents mixed into a homogenous mass until the flour is well expandedand gelatinized. The composition is treated to gelatinize the grainflour component and this is preferably effected by moist heat suppliedby the heated water, such gelatination will take place withinapproximately 7 to 30 minutes of mixing. As previously set forth, it isbelieved that when the protein content of the flour becomes heated inthe presence of water, it forms a gluten formation through coagulationwhile the starch content of the flour when combined with water and heatgelatinizes. At the point of gelatination the wood particles are thenadded until they are com- 1 to said mixture.

pletely distributed throughout the material in a homogenous manner. Theresulting mixture is a monogeneous plastic type modeling compound thathas the rigidity and general consistency and texture that it can bemolded and formed into any given object and which is the subject of theinstant invention. 1

The flour, water, salt .(including calcium chloride) and Wood particlecomponents combined comprise the bulk of the composition preferablyabout at least 20 to 40times as much in weight as the other combinedcomponents. The modeling compound made according to the teachings ofthis invention has the following characteristics; it is soft and pliableand may be easily shaped and formed, thus leading itself to manual use;it is nonsticky and may "be worked quickly and smoothly into any desiredshape or form; it is non-staining and will not harm or mar furniture,furnishings, clothing or hands; it is non-toxic (not recommended foreating but no harm is done should it be accidently swallowed by achild); it is uniformly smooth and free of lumps; when permitted to dryit has an extremely smooth and realistic wood grain-like appearance, ithas no tendency to crack, shrink or fall apart when dry, it is extremelystrong, hard, rigid and resistant to breaking, it may be chiseled,chipped, cut, sawed or sanded, it may be painted, 1acquered with oil,water, or with poster paints and if left in the open air will dry hardwithin a few days; The compound as produced is a homogenous mass and canbe used directly from the can without adding additional materials suchas water, oil, powder, etc., such as are required by other anhydrousmaterials presently on the market which create and produce a mess, whenthe required liquid is added to them prior to their use. The instantmodeling compound may be taken directly from an air tight container,played with for several hours and returned to the container with no illeffects, the compound when used in this way will'retain its pliabilityand working characteristics for periods up to three years. A specificexample of the compound is as follows:

200 pounds of spring wheat flour, first clears 280 pounds of tap water31 pounds of common salt 31 pounds calcium chloride 2 pounds borax /2pound sodium benzoate 19 pounds light hydrocarbon distillate 4 poundsalum pounds wood particles 1 pound of bouquet type industrial perfumeand /s pound of walnut brown food dye which is non-transferable andcertified to be non-toxic and good quality with the provisions of theFederal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

All of the above specific ingredients with the exception of the waterand wood particles are first placed in a mixer, after which the water isheated and then added The wood particles are then added as heretoforedescribed. The type of mixer is not critical and any heavy duty mixerwhich will produce a homogenous mass will suffice. Alternatively theheated water could be first placed in the mixer and then the otheringredients of the batch With the exception of the wood particles, addedsince this sequence with regard to the addition of the wood particles,is critical. The Water is preferably heated to 200 F. and then added tothe ingredients and mixing carried out for at least 3 to 5 minutes untilthe flour is gelatinized after which the Wood particles are added andthe compound is released as a monogenous modeling compound having all ofthe characteristics hereinbefore attributed to the product, and thenimmediately placed in air tight containers.

Example 2 The ingredients and methods as specified in Example 1 with theexception that pound of yellow pine food dye is used in place of thewalnut brown.

Example 3 The ingredients and methods as specified in Example 1 with theexception that /8 pound of red-wood red food dye is used in place of thewalnut brown.

Example 4 The ingredients and methods as specified in Example 1 with theexception that no coloring matter is employed.

It will be understood that other modifications may be effected in ourinvention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. It willbe further understood that although we have shown our invention asembodied in certain combinations of materials and in certain processsteps, we do not intend to be limited to such materials and steps exceptinsofar as they are specifically set forth in the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. A smooth and velvety composition of matter which is soft, pliable,non-sticky, non-toxic, substantially lumpfree, re-workable, andre-moldable, consisting essentially of a mixture by weight of 15 to 45percent grain flour selected from the group consisting of wheat flourand rye flour, to percent water, 1 to 10 percent of a watersoluble *saltselected from the group consisting of sodium chloride and sodiumhypochlorite, 1 to 10 percent calcium chloride and 0.5 to 5 percentkerosene.

2. The composition of claim 1, containing from 0.18 to 0.47 percentpreservative and drying agent, from 0.35 to 0.93 percent hardening andastringent agent, and from 0.06 to 0.18 percent of an antiseptic agent.

OTHER REFERENCES The Merck Index, Seventh Ed., 1960, page 192.

ALEXANDER H. BRODMERKEL, Primary Examiner.

MORRIS LIEBMAN, Examiner.

1. A SMOOTH AND VELVETY COMPOSITION OF MATTER WHICH IS SOFT, PLIABLE,NON-STICKY, NON-TOXIC, SUBSTANTIALLY LUMPFREE, RE-WORKABLE, ANDRE-MOLDABLE, CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A MIXTURE BY WEIGHT OF 15 TO 45PERCENT GRAIN FLOUR SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF WHEAT FLOURAND RYE FLOUR, 30 TO 55 PERCENT WATER, 1 TO 10 PERCENT OF A WATERSOLUBLESALT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SODIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUMHYPOCHLORITE, 1 TO 10 PERCENT CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND 0.5 TO 5 PERCENTKEROSENE.